Optus announced today that it will be flicking the switch on a new 4G LTE network for its Adelaide users just in time for Christmas. 4G is quickly spreading across Australia, opening up a new world of super-fast wireless broadband for Aussies with speeds that are often in excess of landline broadband connections.
It’s important for Adelaide’s Optus users to note that only 4G LTE-enabled devices will work on the 4G network; 3G devices will not automatically be able to access 4G. However, many current devices already support 4G anyway. The iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3 4G, Nokia Lumia 820 and HTC One SV, among others, all have Optus 4G LTE support.
It’s not all bad news for 3G-only Optus users. Optus will also upgrade its Adelaide 3G network coverage in 2013 with an emphasis on noticeably improving indoor 3G speeds.
If Optus continues to expand its 4G networks at the current rate then Telstra may very well have a good race on its hands. Both of Australia’s two major telcos are trying to provide Australia’s largest and best 4G LTE network and, while Telstra is certainly in the lead, the race is still far from over.